Photographic flash light apparatus



A. W. MILLER PHOTOGRAPHIC FLASH LIGHT APPARATUS Filed Jan. 12, 1934 u LI.

mgmkw w M W h a W A Patented. Oct. 8, 1935 This invention CFFICE 2,016,338 PHOTOGBAPHIO FLASH LIGHT APPARATUS I Arthur W. Miller, Jackson, Mich.

Application January 12, 1934, Serial No. 706,342

9 Claims.

relates to photographic flashlight apparatus and more particularly to a device for synchronizing the action of the camera shutter and the light from the flash.

Devices for synchronizing the action of the camera shutter and the light from the flash are lmown but they are not wholly satisfactory for the reason that they can not be readily adjusted to secure the proper synchronization and their construction is complex, tending toward high cost and frequent repairs.

In the prior art attempts have been made to simplify synchronizing apparatus by balancing the tension of the shutter release and-the flash igniting contact spring. Devices of this kind are unsatisfactory for ouireol to release that the force reshutter through a the reason a camera Eowden wire varies with each operation. An ex act timing relation between the shutter release and the ignition oi the hash is then impossible.

An object of this invention is to provide a de vice to synchronize the action of a camera shutter with the light from a fies Another object oi this invention is to provide such a device being of simple construction and ready adjustability,

dependent oi the release.

the operation of which is in tension exerted by the shutter A further object oi this invention is to provide a lever, the continuous motion of which releases the camera shutter and closes built.

an electrical cir- These and other objects will be apparent from the ioilowing specification when taken with the accompanying drawing Fig. l is a front in which elevation oi a flashlight holder having thereon my improved synchronizing lever,

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2 is a side elevation of Fig. -l, and,

Fig. 3 is a broken away detail of the synchronizins lever.

Referring to the drawing i is the holder, housing flash bulb socket a battery, and having mounted thereon the 2 and the reflector 3. A U- iurcated top portion at the base thereoi.

G and a circular opening '5 Riveted or otherwise suit ably secured to the vertical extension 5 is a sepmate but similarl The spring strip top and provided y shaped spring metal strip 8.

8 is likewise bifurcated at the with a circular hole in alignment with the hole in the extension 5. The bifurcations and opening I at the top of the extension 5 and the spring strip 8 may be made of sufilcient size to accommodate any usual camera shutter release. The clamping action of the spring strip 8 will overcome any tendency for 5 looseness when small size releases are used. A lever 9 preferably stamped from sheet metal is pivotally mounted between the arms of the U-shaped bracket i as at it. A spring it holds the lever ii away from the bottom of the holder 10 l'. The bottom of the lever d is tapped and fitted with an adjustable circuit closing. contact screw 02. A lock nut it is provided to hold the screw $12 in the position to which it is set. A contact it extends from the side of the holder i hear the 15 bottom and. is insulated therefrom. The contact it is positioned in the path of the circuit closing contact screw it. The holder may be wired in any suitable manner not shown to around one terminal of the battery to the holder and to connect the other terminal with the contact it. The operation is as follows: The shutter release it is disposed in a cable it having a flange i'i. The flange ill is fitted in the space between the extension 5 and the spring strip it between their bifurcations. The spring strip then holds the flange El and with it the cable it in iixed position. Pressure exerted by the hand on the lower half of the lever causes the lever to pivot about its fulcrum and. presses the shutter release it) so inwardly to release the camera shutter. ".ihe circuit closing screw it is adjusted so that at the moment of the opening or the shutter the contact button it closes the igniting setting ed the flash.

A simple method of adjusting the synchronizer is to place between the contacts i2 and It a piece, of thin paper such as newspaper. Adjustable contact i2 is then moved inwwdly or outwardly until the camera shutter is released at the 40 moment the contacts 2 touches the paper on the contact it. With this adjustment, a slight delay between the shutter opening and the flash igniting is obtained in order to-secure lull shutter opening. As a result, the flash lamp isignited after a minimum lapse of time from the moment the shutter is fully opened.

While a single modification of has been disclosed it is within the contemplation of this invention for instance that a clii- Ierent arrangement of the parts he used or that a different style of lever be provided. The bracket 4 may be clamped to the holder or both the shutter releasing means and the circuit closing means may be located on the same side of the lever iulthe invention crum. It is not intended, therelore, that I be limited except by the scope or the following claims.

I claim:

i. In a photographic flashlight apparatus the combination or a flashlight holder, a bracket mounted thereon, a lever supported by said brack ct, means connected to the shutter of a camera for engagement by said lever to open said shutter, and means operated by said lever to set 01! a flash.

2. In a photographic flashlight apparatus, the combination of a flashlight holder, a bracket mounted thereon, a lever supported. by said bracket having a portion adapted to engage camera shutter releasing means and means on said lever to close an electrical igniting circuit.

3. In a photographic flashlight apparatus, the

. combination of a flashlight holder, a lever mounted thereon, means associated with said lever to hold camera shutter releasing means, an electrical contact supported by said holder and means on said lever adapted to be moved into engagement with the contact on said holder.

4. In photographic flashlight apparatus, the combination of a flashlight holder, a bracket, having two legs mounted thereon a lever pivotally supported between said two legs, means extending from said bracket to support a camera shutter releasing means, and disposed adjacent one end 01 said lever, and an electrical circuit closing means on said lever.

5. In a photographic flashlight apparatus, the combination of a flashlight holder, a bracket associated therewith, a lever pivotally mounted on said bracket, means extending from said bracket to support a camera shutter releasing means and disposed adjacent to one end of said lever, an electrical flash igniting circuit associated with said holder and means on said lever adapted, upon movement thereof to close said circuit.

6. In a photographic flashlight apparatus, the combination of a flashlight holder, a bracket fixed to said holder, a lever pivotally mounted on said bracket, means on said bracket to support a camera shutter releasing means and dis- 5 combination of a flashlight holder, a lever mounted thereon, means associated with said lever to support a camera shutter releasing means, a. flash igniting circuit, 'a contact comprising a 16 part of said circuit, and means on said lever adapted to be moved into engagement with said contact to close said circuit.

8. A photographic accessory for synchronizing the opening of a camera shutter with the setting 20 oi! of a flash comprising a base, a bracket secured on said base, a lever pivoted between its ends in said bracket, said lever being adapted to be manually engaged by the hand of the operator, means extending from said bracket to support a camera shutter releasing means and disposed adjacent one end of, said lever, and an electrical circuit closing means on said lever.

9. A photographic accessory for synchronizing the opening of a camera shutter with the setting oil' 01 a flash comprising a base, a bracket secured on said base, a lever pivoted between its ends in said bracket, said lever being adapted to be manually engaged by the hand of the op erator, means extending from said bracket to 3 support a camera shutter releasing means and disposed adjacent one end of said lever, an else-- trical circuit closing means on said lever, and means on said lever to adjust the synchromzm tion. 40

ARTHUR W. MILLER. 

